Hello, nonfiction lovers! I don’t know about you, but I’ve been on a nonfiction roll recently. For me, nonfiction is a comfort genre, especially when I read about my home region, Appalachia. For the last two years, I’ve been working on my project, Read Appalachia, a multimedia platform that celebrates Appalachian Literature & Writing. As Appalachian writers grow in popularity, I’ve loved seeing so many authors getting a chance to tell their stories. So today, we’re talking about two titles which have come out in the last couple of years. But first, new books!
Bookish Goods
Banned Books Shirt by Joy Apparel USA
I’m always here for another cute, bookish T-shirt! This one comes in a lot of different colors too. $10+
New Releases
Egyptian Myths by Jean Menzies
As someone with a nephew who LOVES mythology (Thanks, Percy Jackson), I’m always on the lookout for more books about the topic. So I’ve had this gorgeous illustrated volume about Egyptian mythology on my list for a long time. Now it’s finally here! Plus, if you like this one, there’s also a Norse Mythology and a Greek Mythology volume.
Bright: A Memoir by Kiki Petrosino
In this memoir, poet Kiki Petrosino shares her experience as a mixed race Black Italian American. She delves into her family’s history, describing how the term “bright” is a slang term for light-skinned Black Americans. With her poet’s eye, Petrosino’s prose is sure to be incredible.
For a more comprehensive list, check out our New Books newsletter.
Riot Recommendations
As the second birthday of my Appalachian Literature project Read Appalachia approaches, I can’t help but think about the excellent nonfiction that has been coming out of the region. Appalachia is such a culturally rich region, but it faces many challenges. So let’s chat about two Appalachian books you won’t want to miss.
The Harlan Renaissance: Stories of Black Life in Appalachian Coal Towns by Dr. William H. Turner
Dr. William H. Turner has been writing about Black Appalachian history for decades. He edited essay collections and researched the vital role Black Appalachians had on the region. Harlan Renaissance focuses on the Black communities in Harlan, Kentucky, where Turner is originally from. Turner discusses how much of the country forgets the importance of Black communities in Kentucky, writing it off as a state with just a bunch of white people. The reality is more complex than that. I really appreciate Turner’s perspective and the care he put into this book. Harlan Renaissance is a brilliant piece of oral and recorded history that celebrates Black Appalachian culture.
Raising Lazarus: Hope, Justice, and the Future of America’s Overdose Crisis by Beth Macy
In this follow up to her critically acclaimed book Dopesick, Beth Macy returns to Appalachia to describe the ongoing opioid crisis. In Raising Lazarus, Macy focuses on the efforts of folks around the region working to help those seeking recovery. From needle exchanges to prescription drugs thought to help people stay in recovery, Macy outlines the programs and details the challenges that different recovery programs face. While many judges and people in law enforcement believe that abstinence is the only option, Macy points out why that’s not necessarily the case. There’s no single path to recovery.
That’s it for this week! You can find me over on my substack Winchester Ave or over on Instagram @kdwinchester. As always, feel free to drop me a line at kendra.d.winchester@gmail.com. For even MORE bookish content, you can find my articles over on Book Riot.
Happy reading, Friends!
~ Kendra